Yes, you can vibe code a ChatGPT wrapper that turns users’ photos into Studio Ghibli style. Yes, you can do this without learning how to code. Yes, you can do a lot of marketing to get people to pay. Yes, you can make tens of thousands of dollars before users wise up and start using ChatGPT directly.
So you made your one-time $10k. Then what?
Actually learn programming? Unlikely. Get a regular job? You won’t after tasting that quick cash. Build a new app to replicate the success? It might not be such a low-hanging app idea anymore. Your new idea may not be simple enough for a vibe coding tool to create. Users might be more wary of your marketing attempts because of your reputation for creating crappy apps.
Then what?
You think reputation doesn’t matter? There’s this indie developer who’s clearly talented but has a habit of selling his apps. After one sale, he creates a new app, then he sells that one too. Eventually, he builds a reputation as the guy who keeps offloading his apps. Think his users will keep buying his new apps? I don’t know how much he’s making, but every time he announces a new app, I see fewer people replying to and liking his posts.
Then what?
Too many people think business is just about making money. They treat every opportunity to earn cash as a legit business move without weighing the long-term consequences. They focus all their energy on starting a business and nothing on staying in business. Maybe that’s why we see serial entrepreneurs rather than serial fraudsters.